where landscape architecture meets urban & regional planning

Peering Into the Future – Land Use Effects of a Weak Economy

In October of 2009, I made a list of what I thought might be outcomes of the economic collapse in the U.S. on landscape/land use planning. Which of these has come true? I think it depends on where you live. Here are my 2009 guesses:

Land use effects of a weak economy

A near halt to new construction, residential and commercial, dramatically slowing land consumption at the urban fringe

A wave of new dead malls and other grayfield sites, especially as retail contracts

Cheaper land prices – which could help efforts by land trusts, although it looks like their boom is over too

In rural areas, land conversion halted – a chance to re-think agriculture?

Fewer areas of second home development. Potentially land abandonment, like second home owners in foreclosure

In desperate attempts to appear “business-friendly,” communities give away the store – sacrificing, neglecting, pillaging the qualities of place that
could have otherwise enhanced their chances of survival

The need to re-examine large-lot zoning given the collapse of rampant development. Which communities will allow cluster development now?

A focus on green retrofits rather than wholly new green construction

Local governments rethinking all basic services – including parks

Infrastructure costs need to be contained

Opportunity for more shared services across jurisdictional boundaries; collaboration between local govt and local businesses

Value of community-building design implementation efforts high, if funding can be found

Need for creative vision – no more planning as maintainer of status quo

Green, livable community strategies still sought; local governments seek to differentiate themselves from their neighbors

Need to demonstrate relationship between good planning/design and economic development

And some questions about what landscape architects can contribute

How can the planning/design process reveal possibilities that might not otherwise be seen? How can visualization techniques build broad community support for actions that contribute to community survival, community resilience?

UPDATE: One factor that I did not consider in 2009 is that the federal government would embrace deficit reduction in the way it has, leading to the virtual abandonment of state and local governments in a time of need. The massive layoffs of local government employees, including teachers, was something that I did not see coming. Like many other progressives, I hope to see this reversed, accompanied by infrastructure investment.